PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – A day after a snowy night in Princess Anne, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women’s basketball team held on to defeat New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), 68-61, to end a 10-game skid. With the victory, the Lady Hawks improved to 4-13 overall while the Highlanders dropped to 5-19 on the season.

UMES bench outscored NJIT, 52-6, led by freshman guard Mariah McCoy (Rock Hill, S.C.) posting a new career-high 27 points. McCoy shot nearly 59-percent from the field (10-for-17) while grabbing a game-high eight boards, tying her career-high set earlier this season. In her efforts, McCoy became the first true-freshman to record 20+ points in a single game since Casey Morton, back in 2008.

With less than eight minutes to go in regulation, the Lady Hawks held a one-point lead, 44-43, until UMES went on a 15-5 run in the next three minutes to extend their lead to eleven, 59-48, including a triple from Shawnee Sweeney (Chester, Va.). NJIT responded by going on a 11-2 run to narrow the deficit to two-points, 61-59, with only two minutes in the game. The Lady Hawks kept their composure and ended the contest on a 7-2 run, including five consecutive points from the charity stripe, to win, 68-61.

Other notable Hawk performances included Sweeney and Jessica Long (Fort Washington, Md.) combining for 23 points, including 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, while Alexis Udoji (Randolph, Mass.) anchored the defensive end, tallying three blocks and seven rebounds in the victory.

After trailing, 15-7, in the first seven-and-half minutes of play, UMES took the lead after going on a 16-2 run, including a layup from Udoji, 23-17. In the next six minutes, NJIT gradually trimmed the deficit down to two-points, 23-21, but a long ball from McCoy increased the lead back to five points, 26-21. The Highlanders’ Alana Dudley nailed a three-pointer to close the half to make the score, 26-24.

For the Highlanders, Martina Matejcikova also set a new career-high, recording 27 points, including 10-for-16 from the field, while Uju Nwankwo added 14 points and eight boards in the loss.

This Saturday (02/01), the Lady Hawks continue their four-game home-stand and resume conference play against the Lady Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT). Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. (EST)